Sunday, April 15, 2007
1st Peter 1:3-9
Senior Pastor
We begin our new sermon series this morning. I am calling it Joining the Resurrection Conspiracy. Now I am not using conspiracy to mean that somehow the resurrection is a hoax or that somehow people plotted to mislead us in regard to the resurrection. Rather I am using conspiracy in a more basic way. Think of the words inspire and conspire and expire and respiration. They all use a root word from Latin, which means to breathe. So, I am using conspire in the sense of breathing together, it suggests a close working together – a unity of breath and effort.
I am thinking of the resurrection conspiracy as those who are closely working together to spread the news and power of the resurrection. On this Sunday after Easter, who are those who are ready to spread the news and power of the resurrection so that others may know? Are you ready to be a part of the resurrection conspiracy?
In our Bibles we have a number of letters from some first century conspirators. These early Christians that were ready to give their all so that others may come to know this earth shaking news that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead. On this Confirmation Sunday when we are receiving a new group of those who are willing to stand up and claim the name Christian, let’s take a moment to explore the importance of that step in faith.
Since many of us here come from backgrounds other than United Methodist, let me say a word about the whole confirmation process. Perhaps the most common image of becoming Christian has to do with a dramatic decision that changes the person instantly and forever. And that happens for some people. But in my experience as a pastor, more people come to faith in a very gradual way over many years. We also know that a huge majority of Christians come to faith before they are eighteen. Understanding this and being a part of a denomination that is methodical in its view of growing as a Christian, we stand with the Roman Catholics and others in offering a confirmation experience for our young people.
This confirmation experience provides a solid grounding in the history of the church and the major themes in the Bible. It gives ample time for a person to ask questions and think about beliefs, as well as learn from the best Christian thinkers across time. It provides a process through which one can intentionally work on their relationship with God and allow God time to work in them. Then we come to this time in which the church judges that they are ready to claim the name Christian and the individual has the opportunity to stand up and say that they are ready to do so.
We believe in all of this the most important player is not the individual, but our God who we believe has been at work in this person’s life since they were born. God is at work here. In our text today from 1st Peter, it is put this way in verse 3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Just as we affirm in the baptismal covenant each time we baptize a baby, this is a gift of from God, offered to us without price. We simply receive it. We claim the name Christian; we claim to be a follower of this Jesus Christ who was raised from the dead.
At our best it becomes the defining story for the rest of
our lives.
Recently I heard another United Methodist pastor share a story of how a woman who had been a very active member of his church moved away. Some months later she emailed him with news of her move and a brief update of her life. Then toward the end she wrote that she had decided to no longer call herself a Christian. She said there were so many ideas and images associated with Christians in our culture that she didn’t agree with and didn’t define her that she had decided not to call herself a Christian anymore.
She then went on to say it’s not that she doesn’t believe in God or even in Jesus Christ, just that she is not going to use the title any more. We can probably understand her feelings. Most of us can identify people or practices that use the label Christian that we don’t agree with and don’t accurately describe our faith walk.
But let’s think about that for a minute. What then happens to Christianity? If those of us who are Christian in the Methodist tradition opt out of the family, what happens to our witness? What if John Wesley, our founder, or his mother Susanna, who was the major influence in his life, or any of the other early leaders or participants decided to not call themselves Christian? Where would we be? Where would the millions of souls shaped by Methodism be today?
What if these early witnesses to the resurrection decided not to label themselves as followers of Christ? Would we know that he was crucified, died and then was raised on the third day? Would we know of the great love of God? Would we believe in the great power of God? Would we know of this Jesus of Nazareth, who walked the earth and proclaimed this way of suffering love? Would we even have a chance to join the resurrection conspiracy?
Enough about us, what about these young people? What if we had decided to not claim the name Christian? What about their experience and beliefs and values? We know what governments and countries and families look like without love and compassion, respect and dignity, freedom and responsibility. See, if that young woman decides not to use the name Christian, many others lose. But she too loses something. She loses the positive side of living an openly Christian life in the community of faith.
Myra Shostak tells about hearing the story of this woman
Anne who decided to go river rafting. Before floating everyone had to
learn the basic procedures and safety measures. As the instructor
outlined the dangers, Ann became scared. What if her raft capsized or was
dashed against the rocks? What if she were thrown into the rapidly
churning water and carried downstream before anyone could rescue her?
The
instructor had one answer to all of Ann's anxious questions: "There is a
rope that is attached to the perimeter of the raft. Whatever happens,
hold on to that rope. Never let go. Just hold on."
It is your lifeline. And do you know
what? An unexpected storm came up, and Ann's raft did capsize, but she
remembered her instructor's words. She held on to that rope, and she
survived.
1st Peter says it this way: Although you have not seen [Christ], you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (v. 8-9)
You don’t see him, but because others in the community have shared him with you, you can love him and believe in him and be filled with an indescribable and glorious joy.
Jesus Christ is our lifeline! Through whatever happens, we hold on for we know that is the key to life abundant and life eternal.
Today is the day
we rejoice with you, Confirmation Class of 2007, as you claim the name Christian and join with
us in the resurrection conspiracy! We
celebrate you and this momentous decision.
Amen and thanks be to God.
1st
Peter 1:3-9
…Joining the Resurrection ____________________.
…the resurrection conspiracy as those who are closely
working
together to spread the ________ and power of the resurrection.
…letters from some first century ________________________.
This confirmation experience provides a solid grounding
in the
history of the church and the major themes in the __________.
…time for a person to ask questions…
… learn from the ________ Christian thinkers…
the most important player… but our God who we
believe has
been at work in this person’s life since they were ________.
At our best it becomes the ________________ story
for the rest of our lives.
…she had decided to no longer call herself
a __________________.
What then ______________ to Christianity?
What if these early witnesses… resurrection decided not to…
…young woman decides not to use the name Christian many
others lose. But she too __________ something.
Whatever
happens, hold on to that ________.
v. 8-9
Jesus
Christ is our ________________!
Today is the day
we rejoice with you,
________________________
Class of 2007…
Kid’s Question:
Who is our lifeline?